Member Brief No. 16: Patreon’s Signal

If you’re an independent creator, Patreon is your home. The upstart has accomplished great traction in a short period of time. CEO Jack Conte and Sam Yam’s creation launched in May of 2013 after Conte grew increasingly frustrated by Youtube’s lack of monetization. As the story would go, Conte beta-tested the site with his own personal Youtube audience and began raking in $7,000+ per video. Youtube’s monetization would earn him a little more than $50 for the same work. Fast forward five years and Patreon is synonymous with patronage, as much as Kickstarter is synonymous with crowdfunding.